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DVD profile -
Starmax (Korea) Special Version

SPECIAL FEATURES SUBTITLES
Because you asked for it...here are subtitles for some of the Special Features of the Korean Special Version, as transcribed from the Tartan Special Edition.

Portions of the special feature have dialogue from the movie in there; rather than quote those respective passages at length, I've only put in fragments to give you an idea of what's being spoken.

Titles/onscreen text/graphics are shown in italics. Lines from the movie are in "quotes."

WOWOW SPECIAL

(note: this was a special program that ran on the cable/satellite station WOWOW, so there's a lot of talking up and hype, especially towards the end)

Takeshi Kitano: If it is a battle for survival then it is one for cultural survival or simply for existence. But whatever the goal the winner is the one who makes it to the end.

Kinji Fukasaku: There are some real crimes involving young people and I drew inspiration from these kind of crimes. But my film is fundamentally an action movie, so the realism depicted is neither in the realm of a true crime film nor a documentary film.

Tatsuya Fujiwara (Nanahara): I think this film is great. I would hope you think so too.

Aki Maeda (Noriko): After I first saw the film, I could not say a word. I was dumb-founded and in a complete state of shock.

Taro Yamamoto (Kawada): I don't believe you can afford to miss even a second of this film.

Chiaki Kuriyama (Chigusa): I think this film will be remembered for a long time to come, and I want people to relish watching it.

Kou Shibasaki (Mitsuko): The focus of this film is not on the act of killing but on the act of staying alive.

Masanobu Ando (Kiriyama): For me personally it was a happy experience. Yes, it was very intense, but I will remember it for the rest of my life.

Prologue: Battle Royale

"don't forget one thing...life is a game..."

Kitano: Whatever the goal of the game the winner is the last one left alive.

"How can they..."

Fujiwara: I think it's a very clever film

"You won't like me saying this"-

Maeda: I thought about how much you are able to trust someone

"what are your weapons"

Yamamoto: You shouldn't be asking. I am Kawada! (laughs)

"--come at me"

Kuriyama: I was impressed by my character's willingness to risk everything to save her dignity in such extreme circumstances.

"...like a princess..."

Shibasaki: My character is a girl who uses her sexuality to get what she wants.

Ando: My character hardly had any dialogue. But that meant I could concentrate on my actions.

Narrator: Battle Royale is based on a best-selling novel which has sold over 420,000 copies. The film has created a lot of controversy with its depiction of a killing zone in which 42 high school students battle for survival.

Battle Royale

Narrator: Its extreme subject matter and uncompromising vision of violence attracted huge media interest from the early stages of production. The film was directed by Japanese auteur Kinji Fukasaku and will be his 60th production. It also features the dream pairing of Fukasaku with actor Beat Takeshi for the first time.

Kitano: He is the director, so when he asked me to be in his film, I was honored..
... He told me that he wanted the name of the character to be Kitano. I told him, in that case I will not be acting but just playing myself. So I was a little bit disappointed at first.

"everyone pay attention..."

Narrator: What is the BR act?

"country is absolutely no good anymore..."

Fukasaku: "No good." Say it straight away. "No Good."
(Kitano echoing Fukasaku's cues) ..."absolutely no good anymore"
"No whispering, dammit!"

Narrator: The film takes place on Hachijo-kojima Island at the height of summer.

Fukasaku (on set): Turn around this way.

Fukasaku (interview): There should be a lot of negative aspects to the violence in this film. However, when you start to look at it as a whole, you may find that much of the negativity does not entail violence at all. I don't have such a clear-cut view of absolute right and wrong, or the idealism that any kind of violence should be refuted outright.

Narrator: Due to its extreme violence and gruesome content, the film has received an R15 rating from the Japanese censor. However, the killing game is simply a plot device. Within it, the film skillfully illustrates the youthful resourcefulness of those who have no choice but to participate.

(snippets from the film)
(montage with techno mix of Requiem, actors' names)

Narrator: At the close of the millennium, Battle Royale is the most controversial film of the century.

Dragon Ash - "Shizukana Hibi no Kaidan Wo"

Narrator: The intensity of the imagery is indescribable. You simply need to see it for yourself.

(Shizukana Hibi no Kaidan Wo/Air on a G-string montage)

"It's tough when your friends die on you..."

(the cookie scene)

(credits)

Time limit: 3 Days. On a small uninhabited island where escape is impossible!
42 students must battle each other for ultimate survival
Have you ever killed your best friend?

Narrator: Battle Royale. Released nationwide December 16.

AUDITION AND REHEARSAL

One day in June, 2000

Toei Oizumi studios

Fukasaku: Ready...Action!

"Kitano"
"Can't Be..."
"Sit down"

This is the first gathering of the 42 students of Class B, 9th Grade
Rehearsal of the classroom scene with everyone present

"If I survive, can I go home..."

One year ago at a junior high school in Tokyo

Fukasaku begins his research

October 1999, Auditions begin

Over 800 hopefuls attend

(lighthouse scene in the background)

Six months were spent on script reading and physical tests

Actors were selected to fill the roles one by one

(Hirono/Mitsuko scene)

Fukasaku (to Kuriyama): "Ah, I haven't even had a boyfriend yet." It's not just with a weak voice, it's also her dying breath. When you're in this state, all you can do to cope with the pain is hold yourself like this. But you didn't convey that sense of struggle.

Fukasaku (to Takaoka): This hand should reach here. And move your head this way. "You're crying again, you cry-baby."

Kuriyama: "You're crying again, you cry-baby."

Fukasaku: Action!

Ishikawa (Utsumi): "Are you awake?"

Fujiwara: "Where am I?"

Ishikawa: "Are you awake?"

Fujiwara: "How did you...?"

Ishikawa: "This morning, when I was on lookout, I found you completely soaked..."

Fujiwara: "Did you do this for me?"

Ishikawa: "It was my first time touching a man's body--"

Fukasaku: It's not sexy enough! Don't lean on your elbows. Make it easier on yourself to move this way. I want you more towards this way. And smile!

(lighthouse shootout)

Fukasaku: Oi, Chisato! Your'e sleeping too peacefully. Throw your whole body at it. This way. And you have to follow.
Watch your right leg. Pull it towards you more!

Stunt coordinator: You dropped down but your leg is waiting.

(Ishikawa tries it)

Stunt coordinator: That's right!

June 2000

Camera test before shooting

Fukasaku: Ready! Action!

It's already midnight but shooting continues

Crew member: Start the fire.

Fukasaku: Ready! Action!

"MAKING OF" (BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE)

Tomomi Shimaki (Ogawa): (psyching herself up) It's all my fault in the end. Help me!...yes?

Kinji Fukasaku, Beat Takeshi, and the slaughter of 42 junior high school students

(call sheet) Shooting scene at the defense school

20 June 2000 Shooting begins

Satoshi Yokomichi (Hatagami): I like the white slip showing underneath the girls' skirt. Yeah, it's cute.
Junichi Naito(Takiguchi): I'm not so sure. It looks odd. If it was a bit more obvious...
Yokomichi: If it was more obvious, it wouldn't be so cute.

Crew member: Your collars should be outside the jacket.

Fukasaku: I remembered all your names at last. You're Yamaguchi, you're Kotani, and you're Masuda. And...well...
Goki Nishimura (Oki): (echoing) Well...

Fukasaku: (directing classroom scene) Look towards this way! This way! Turn and...stop! Stop there! Akiyama! (sic) No, not Akiyama...Boys No. 1! You don't have to stand.

Shibasaki (talking about her piercing as Fukasaku makes faces behind her): It's only been 2 months, but it's soft bone so it closes up quickly.

Shiro Go (Sasagawa): "Where the hell are we? You've brought us to a weird place, haven't you, asshole?"
Fukasaku: Haven't you read the script properly?
Go: Oh, this one was...
Fukasaku: That's not the line!
Go: I'm sorry, my mistake.
Fukasaku: Have you read it?
Go: I've read it!
Go: "Oi, don't mess about. Where the hell are we?!"
Fukasaku: Get the tempo right!
Go: Yes.
Fukasaku: And pronounce each word clearly. You sound like you're reading from a textbook. "Oi, don't mess about with me! Where the hell are we?" Like that. Do you get it?
Go: Yes.
Go: "Oi, stop fucking about! Where the hell are we?"
Fukasaku: Like this. As you stand, say "Oi." Try it. Ready...Go!
Go: "Oi--"
Fukasaku: Stand up! That's it. But do that after hearing me.
Go: Sorry. "Oi, stop fucking about! Where the hell--"
Fukasaku: Too weak! Stand up. Yes, like that.
Fukasaku: Ready. (Go stands up before the cue) Action! I told you to listen first! Do you understand? You hear your cue and then start acting! It's common sense. Just like "A" is first in the alphabet.
(Go stands and forgets his line)
Fukasaku: What happened to the rest of the dialogue?

Sayaka Kamiya (Satomi): "Who are these people?"
Fukasaku: "Who are these people?" Put your weight on the table and get up like this. "Who are these people?"
Kamiya: So should I do it this way?
Fukasaku: Yeah, and say: "Who are these people?"
Kamiya: "Who are these people?"
Fukasaku: That's it. You can do it! (smacks her with his paper fan)

Fukasaku: That's not what I meant. I'm asking you how you feel about people like that.
Sosuke Takaoka (Sugimura): You mean the soldiers?
Fukasaku: No! That girl!
Takaoka: You mean Sakura (Ogawa)?
Fukasaku: That's right.
Takaoka: Well, I think it's okay to...
Fukasaku: That's not what I'm asking. I want to know how you think she compare to you. Is it simply a question of like or dislike?
Takaoka: If you don't want to fight, or you're not going to fight for survival then...
Fukasaku: She's saying that she doesn't want to fight. But what about you?
Takaoka: Well, I don't think I'd fight for my survival either. But...
Fukasaku: But what?!
Takaoka: I would take the weapons and find the girls.
Fukasaku: You haven't experienced anything like that in real life, have you?
Takaoka: No.
Fukasaku: You have to really think about the situation and what is going through your character's head. Think about those things in detail and tell me what would your character do? As an actor playing that character what would you do?

Fukasaku (interview): Everyone is trying really hard to understand their motivation. And when that happens it makes shooting that much easier. I'm really enjoying it. There was a filmmaker who said, "if I wasn't a baseball..." no! "If I was told to choose a career other than being a film director..." he said he would rather be a high school baseball coach, training his team for the National Tournament. Yes, I really enjoy working with young people like this.

Hitomi Hyuga (Yuko) (reading Kusaka's lines with a horrible voice): "Everyone..." (everyone cracks up) I'm really sorry. I've got a cold.
Hyuga: "Everyone stop fighting!" "Please listen to us!"
Fukasaku: How your voice sounds doesn't make a difference.
Hyuga:"Everyone stop fighting!" "Please listen to us! It's me, Kusaka. Right now, I'm with Yukiko hiding in the lighthouse on top of a rock."
Fukasaku: Have you got a cold?
Hyuga: Yes, a sore throat.
Fukasaku: Okay, okay. You can rest now.
Hyuga: (smiling sheepishly as she leaves) Sorry. Sorry!


Anna Nagata (Hirono): Good night! I haven't had a holiday this summer. No fireworks and no swimming, not even once!

(Oki sings - no subs for this part)

2 September 2000 Last day of shooting

(the cast, on the set for reshoots, views the trailer; the students audibly react to the "have you ever killed your best friend?" tagline)

Boy student actor (offscreen): It's really scary

Crewmember: We've also got the postcards advertising the film.